TRIGGER WARNING!
This website contains poetry and true stories about trauma, personality disorders, suicidal thoughts, self-harming, depression and other significant mental health issues, as well as personal stories of emotional neglect and physical and sexual abuse, which some people might find disturbing.
Happy New Year everyone!
Wishing you all a calm and creative 2026, and keep writing ... poetry !!!
Would you like to contribute to Poetry for Mental Health in 2026, and share your poetry and personal story about mental health with fellow poetry lovers around the world? We are looking for new FEATURED POETS, PERSONAL STORIES, INTERVIEWS, as well as single poems for our WEEKLY FEATURED POETRY posts. Full submission details HERE.
Poetry for Mental Health
Supporting people with mental health challenges by motivating and inspiring them to write poetry.
"Poetry for Mental Health has supported thousands of people around the world through words and poetry!"
ROBIN BARRATT - Founder POETRY FOR MENTAL HEALTH
I formed
Poetry for Mental Health at the outbreak of COVID, as a way of helping people cope mentally through lockdown and the pandemic by inspiring them to write poetry. Five years, seven books, hundreds of poets, and thousands of pieces of poetry later,
Poetry for Mental Health
is still inspiring people to write poetry for positive mental health! And with around 1600 visitors each and every month, it
is now probably the largest and most visited website of its kind on the net!"
~
"No matter what your age, background and experience, culture or identity; whether an established writer with many published titles to your credit, or an aspiring poet who has never written a word of poetry in your life, our philosophy here is to embrace, welcome and support everyone, everywhere suffering from mental health challenges, and help you cope through words and poetry ... Get writing!"
NEW - This Week's Featured Poetry (x4)
Week commencing 12th January, 2026
THE PRICELESS TREASURE WITHIN A MAN
By Briyanna Dorminvil
Vulnerability, my most prized possession.
People often misunderstand its true essence
by viewing it through the lens of negativity.
Vulnerability is helpful yet harmful.
Once I bring a portion of it to the light,
I can no longer hide it in the darkness.
When I consider being vulnerable, two common fears pull me into hesitation:
the possibility of people using it as ammunition,
and the risk of people sharing my personal information.
Unintended exposure can result in
public ridicule, verbal abuse, and additional internal harm.
Sudden bursts of ammunition cause further internal damage,
pushing me deeper into my mental prison.
Can my mind bear the damage?
Can my heart endure the betrayal and pain from those I trust, reopening my unhealed wounds? People wonder why I hesitate to be vulnerable.
Will I allow my bad experiences to ruin my perception of my most prized possession?
The door to the room of my internal struggles has been
closed.
After careful consideration,
I need to
revisit this room
with a trustworthy person
at some point.
Who can I trust?
When will I be free to share my most prized possession without
being questioned, hurt, or criticized?
I could no longer withstand the weight of trauma, the grip of agony, or the bleeding, hidden wounds. Like a breath of fresh air, an unexpected presence entered the room—a therapist.
Vulnerability, my most prized possession.
A small dosage to the right person can assist me
in receiving the three crucial things I have been seeking:
compassion, emotional support, and mental stability.
Based on the results, I can share another dosage to
address internal issues, overcome hidden challenges, and
heal.
As we progress in addressing my internal issues,
I began to examine vulnerability through a lens of positivity.
There is a hidden key within my exposure to others:
relatability.
Vulnerability is a powerful reminder that
we are not alone in our struggles;
it unites us in our shared humanity
and reveals our capacity to overcome even the toughest challenges.
When we find common ground with others,
we can start a new chapter in our lives.
One narrative can change various lives
through an unforgettable impact of inspiration and encouragement.
Vulnerability, my most prized possession.
Priceless but fragile.
Helpful yet harmful.
Weak yet strong.
ABOUT THE POEM: This poem underscores the hidden struggles and the importance of a man's vulnerability. It highlights how men must break free from their mental prison, confront hidden issues by seeking help, and heal. I wrote this poem to raise awareness about the importance, benefits, and disadvantages (when exposed to the wrong people) of vulnerability. Also, to inform people about some of the common mistakes we make when a man is vulnerable, which lead him to being closed off. Lastly, I wrote this to dispel the common myth that vulnerability is unhelpful or simply weakness.
ABOUT BRIYANNA: Briyanna is an Eric-Hoffer Award-nominated author who has made a notable impact on the writing industry through her emphasis on diversity, authenticity, and transparency. She strives to inspire and educate others through scriptures and wisdom. In her free time, she enjoys mentoring, taking long walks, and reading.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22915120.Briyanna_Dorminvil
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briyanna-dorminvil-9a9658285/
WALK FORWARD
By Jasmeet Gabrie
Fishing Rod I won’t be wheeled back in
Walk forward even when you cannot see. Feel the fresh air hitting your face. Does it anchor you? Place your heel down feel grounded like the earth.
Walk forward - you don’t need to know the story. That’s life’s delight - surprise.
Walk forward - Let me hold your hand. What do I need to say? Can I take away the pain? Am I a fisherman reeling you in or
Am I the anchor?
Walk forward - It starts with you. It ends with you. Walk forward. Towards 2026. Welcome 2026!
The fast firework; all sparkle.
The firework that expands so much it gives you a hug.
Take what you do need in the new year and leave behind what you don’t. Say hurray, hurray! Walk forward not backward.
Fishing Rod coming. I won't be wheeled back in.
Anchored in the sword of word.
Walk forward.
COMPLEX
By Jose manoj Mathews T
The girl who I loved
walking before me
slowly chatting with her friends.
I wanted to overtake them.
When I overtook,
My complex attacked me
I thought, they were
laughing at me.
I was not walking.
I's in a trance,
going to nowhere.
My house far away.
When I reached home,
a stranger opened the door, and
asked 'who are you'?
I wanted to see my parents.
But that stranger, slammed
the door, Shouting to get lost!
ABOUT THE POEM: "I was mentally sick even from my boyhood. My schoolmates called me mad. I used to wept whenever I was alone. Now my neighbours consider me insane and avoid my presence."
UNTITLED
By Charity Louise
Manipulators
Thought Controllers
Thought Deceivers
And Thought Receivers
My thoughts are not yours
To steal
My memories are not yours
To erase
My existence is not yours
To terrorize
My beliefs are not yours
To control
I am free
To think and choose
Don’t come near me
I am not yours
Lots more Featured Poetry here:
"Why is poetry so very good for people with mental health challenges? Because it helps them see the world in their own way, and in a way that makes sense to them ..."
Robin Barratt
Our Books
"People can benefit from writing poetry because it can take the images and the talk in your head and transfer it to paper. It’s like getting the words out
of your head so that they don’t linger there."
Nadine Dunseith
Personal Journeys
In their own words, writers and poets write about their own personal journey with mental health.
Interviews
Nine amazing writers and poets about their journey with mental health.
Featured Poets
Featuring almost 80 poets around the world, with up to six pieces of their work, and a little about the author and the stories behind their work.
Featured Books
Promoting poetry books and publications.
Articles
Articles about poetry and positive mental health.
Publishing Services
We publish books for other people too!!!
Would you like to see your poetry collection published as a paperback and Kindle, and available for other people to read around the world? Prices start from just £150.00 for a chapbook / short collection. Click on the link for more info. Plus
Promoting Your Book - information and advice for promoting and marketing your book. We have published over 100 books for other people. Just a few examples below:
Other ...
Directory of Support Services
Charities, groups and organisations worldwide offering mental health help and support to people in crisis.
Mental Health First Aid
Identifying warning signs of common mental health crisis, and how to guide a person towards safety and appropriate help. More info ...
Newsletters ...
NEW - Newsletters ONLINE
What's new at Poetry for Mental Health. Our monthly newsletters are now available to read online.
Send us your name and email address and we'll keep you updated with our news and calls for submissions. We'll never send you more than one email a month, or pass your details onto anyone else ... ever!
“No matter how bad something may seem at that moment in time when you feel all is lost, it can get better if you can only give it more time."
Lynda Tavakoli
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NOTE ON CONTRIBUTIONS: We publish mental health poetry from around the world, and for a number contributors to this website, English is not their first language. Unlike some other platforms, we don't heavily edit a poet's own work (if we did, it would then not be their own work!), so please focus on a poet's messages and meanings, and not necessarily on any grammatical mistakes or translated imperfections that may arise within their contribution.